Apparatus for tying knots in inflated balloons

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for tying inflated balloons having a wrapping member and a threading member. The threading member is configured to insert into a slot in the wrapping member. The apparatus is configured to aid in tying an inflated balloon by wrapping a neck of the inflated balloon around the wrapping member, securing a mouth of the inflated balloon in a gripping portion of the threading member, and removing the threaded member from the wrapping member to pull the mouth of the inflated balloon through the wrapped neck of the balloon. This results in an inflated balloon having a knot tied in the neck thereof.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Serial No. 60/361,014, filed Feb. 28, 2002 and entitled“Apparatus for Tying Knots in Inflated Balloons”.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention generally relates to a device and methodfor tying balloons. More specifically, the present invention relates toa device and method for tying a knot in the neck of an inflated balloon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Balloons are popular novelty items used in decorations andentertainment. Balloon tying is frequently difficult because of the finemotor dexterity that is required to tie an inflated balloon. For peoplewith disabilities such as arthritis, carpel tunnel syndrome, etc., tyingballoons may not be possible. Several devices have been designed to aidin tying inflated balloons, including U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,325,426;6,227,580; 6,082,785; 5,611,578; 5,647,615; 5,5568,950; 5,314,217;5,104,160; 5,039,142; 4,802,877; 4,510,653; and 3,752,517 thedisclosures of which are herein incorporated by reference.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] An apparatus for tying inflated balloons having a wrapping memberand a threading member. The threading member is configured to insertinto a slot in the wrapping member. The apparatus is configured to aidin tying an inflated balloon by wrapping a neck of the inflated balloonaround the wrapping member, securing a mouth of the inflated balloon ina gripping portion of the threading member, and removing the threadedmember from the wrapping member to pull the mouth of the inflatedballoon through the wrapped neck of the balloon. This results in aninflated balloon having a knot tied in the neck thereof.

[0005] The advantages of the present invention will be understood morereadily after a consideration of the drawings and the DetailedDescription.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006]FIG. 1 is a photograph of an embodiment of the balloon tyingapparatus of the present invention.

[0007]FIG. 2 is a photograph of the embodiment of FIG. 1, showing awrapping member and threading member disengaged from one another.

[0008]FIG. 3 is a photograph of the embodiment of FIG. 1, showing thewrapping member and the threading member engaged.

[0009]FIG. 4 is a photograph of the embodiment of FIG. 1, showing thethreaded member disengaged from the wrapping member.

[0010]FIG. 5 is a photograph of the embodiment of FIG. 1, showing a neckportion of an inflated balloon being wrapped around the wrapping member.

[0011]FIG. 6 is a photograph of the embodiment of FIG. 1, showing amouth portion of an inflated balloon hooked into a slot on the threadingmember.

[0012]FIG. 7 is photograph of the embodiment of FIG. 1, showing thethreading member threading the mouth through the wrapped neck of theballoon.

[0013]FIG. 8 is a photograph of the embodiment of FIG. 1, showing thethreaded member removed from the wrapping member and a knot tied in theneck of the balloon.

[0014]FIG. 9 is a photograph of the embodiment of FIG. 1, showing thethreading member being rotated to release the mouth portion of theinflated balloon.

[0015]FIG. 10 is a photograph of the embodiment of FIG. 1, showing thetied balloon removed from the balloon tying apparatus.

[0016]FIG. 11 is a top view of another embodiment of a balloon tyingapparatus according to the present invention.

[0017]FIG. 12 is a side view of the balloon tying apparatus of FIG. 11.

[0018]FIG. 13 is a perspective the balloon tying apparatus of FIG. 11.

[0019]FIG. 14 is an end view of the balloon tying apparatus of FIG. 11.

[0020]FIG. 15 is a side view of the balloon tying apparatus of FIG. 11,showing the threading member removed from the balloon tying apparatus.

[0021]FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the balloon tying apparatus ofFIG. 11, showing the threading member removed from the balloon tyingapparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] The present invention is an inflated balloon tying apparatus,generally indicated at 10. In FIG. 1, apparatus 10 includes a wrappingmember 12 and a threading member 14. Wrapping member 12 includes areceiving slot 16 extending through an end portion 18 thereof. Slot 16may be configured to receive an end portion 20 of threading member 14,substantially within slot 16, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0023]FIG. 2 shows wrapping member 12 and threaded member 14 disengagedfrom one another. A groove 22 or neck support guide may be formed on endportion 18 of wrapping member 12. Groove 22 provides a guide foraligning a neck of an inflated balloon as the neck is wrapped aroundwrapping member 12.

[0024] A mouth-holding slot, or gripper portion 24 may be formed on endportion 20 of threading member 14. Mouth-holding slot 24 may be sized toreceive the neck of an inflated balloon just above the mouth of theballoon. Mouth-holding slot 24 may be configured to prevent a mouth ofan inflated balloon from slipping out.

[0025] In FIG. 3, wrapping member 12 is secured to a fixture 26 suchthat the wrapping member 12 extends upwardly providing free space aroundend portion 18. This free space enables a neck of an inflated balloon tobe wrapped easily around wrapping member 12. Threading member 14 isengaged with slot 16 to aid in tying an inflated balloon.

[0026] In FIG. 4, wrapping member 12 and threading member 14 aredisengaged. FIG. 4 clearly illustrates the slot and groove in member 12.Additionally, gripper portion or mouth-holding slot 24 is clearly shown.

[0027] An inflated balloon may be tied with apparatus 10 by followingthe steps, illustrated by FIGS. 5-10. Initially, a user stretches theneck of an inflated balloon and aligns it with groove 22 of wrappingmember 12, as shown in FIG. 5. Threading member 14 should be engaged inslot 16 of wrapping member 12.

[0028] Subsequently, a user wraps the mouth end of the neck of theinflated balloon around the wrapping member. Crossing over the stretchedneck in groove 22, the mouth of the inflated balloon is secured inmouth-holding slot 24 of threading member 14, as shown in FIG. 6. A userthen grips threading member 14 and withdraws it from slot 16, therebypulling the mouth of the balloon through the looped neck, as shown inFIG. 7.

[0029] Next, a user removes the inflated balloon from wrapping member12, thereby tightening the looped neck into a knot, as shown in FIG. 8.Finally, a user rotates threading member 14 toward the inflated balloonto release the mouth of the balloon from mouth-holding slot 24,resulting in a tied balloon, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.

[0030] Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS.11-16. This embodiment functions in a similar manner to that describedwith reference to FIGS. 1-10. The design is configured not to include amount, but replaces the mount with a handle, as will be explained below.The process of tying the balloon using this alternative embodiment isthe same as that described with reference to FIGS. 5-10.

[0031] FIGS. 11-16 show a balloon tying apparatus 110. The apparatusincludes a wrapping member 112 and a threading member 114. The wrappingmember 112 includes a slot 116 in an end portion 118. Threading member114 includes an end portion 120 configured to insert into slot 116.Threading member 114 includes a mouth-holding slot 124 configured tohold the mouth of a balloon.

[0032] Wrapping member 112 includes a handle portion 130 that may bemanually held during the operation of balloon tying apparatus 110.Wrapping member 112 includes a wrapping guide or groove 122 thatpositions the stretched neck of a balloon being tied using apparatus 10.Wrapping guide 122 supports the neck of an inflated balloon as the mouthof the balloon is pulled through a loop created around wrapping member112 by the balloon neck resulting in a tied balloon.

[0033] Although the invention has been disclosed in its preferred forms,the specific embodiments thereof as disclosed and illustrated herein arenot to be considered in a limiting sense, because numerous variationsare possible. The subject matter of the invention includes all novel andnon-obvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements,features, functions, and/or properties disclosed herein. No singlefeature, function, element or property of the disclosed embodiments isessential. Various claims may be part of applications that may claimpriority of this application. Such claims may define certaincombinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements,and/or properties. Such claims, whether they are broader, narrower,equal, or different in scope to any earlier claims, also are regarded asincluded within the subject matter of the invention.

I claim:
 1. A balloon tying apparatus comprising: a wrapping memberconfigured to support a neck of an inflated balloon in a wrappedconfiguration and including a receiving slot; a threading memberconfigured to insert into the receiving slot and configured to secure amouth of the inflated balloon.
 2. The balloon tying apparatus of claim1, wherein the wrapping member includes a neck support guide configuredto support the neck of the inflated balloon during the tying operation.3. The balloon tying apparatus of claim 1, wherein the threading memberincludes a mouth holding slot for securing the mouth of the inflatedballoon.
 4. A method for tying an inflated balloon comprising: providinga balloon tying apparatus including a wrapping member configured tosupport a neck of an inflated balloon in a wrapped configuration andincluding a receiving slot and a threading member configured to insertinto the receiving slot and configured to secure a mouth of the inflatedballoon; wrapping a neck of an inflated balloon around the wrappingmember; crossing the mouth of the inflated balloon over the wrapped neckof the balloon; securing the mouth of the inflated balloon in amouth-retaining slot in the threading member; removing the threadedmember from the wrapping member thereby pulling the mouth of the balloonthrough the wrapped neck of the balloon; and removing the wrapped neckof the balloon from the wrapping member and releasing the mouth of theballoon from the threading member.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein thewrapping member includes a neck support guide configured to support theneck of the inflated balloon during wrapping.
 6. The method of claim 4,wherein the threading member includes a mouth holding slot for securingthe mouth of the inflated balloon.